Tubular fabric spreader



G. A. JOHNSON 2,507,599

TUBULAR FABRIC SPREADER Filed March 20, 1947 May 16, 1950 JNVENTOR. GEORGE A. JOHNSON BY Patented May 16, 1950 TUBULAR FABRIC SPREADER George A. Johnson, New York, N. Y., assignor to American Viscose Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application March 20, 194,7, Serial No. 736,015

l1 Claims.

This invention relates to a device adapted to spread out a tubular fabric and is particularly concerned with that type of device which is adapted to float in a xed position within the traveling tubular fabric, and is provided with rotary members spaced along its edges, with or Without belts carried thereon, to engage the traveling fabric and thereby reduce the friction of such fabric along the edges cf the spreader device.

Itis the primary object of the present invention to provide improved drivingl means for driving at least some of the rotary members carried by the floating device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a form of driving means which is adapted to independently control the speeds of the fabricengaging members. at the several edges of the device in order to straighten out the fabric whenever it becomes disposed in a crooked fashion upon the device because of any irregularity causing the fabric to feed faster along one side than the other or to slip relative to the driving means on one side more than on the other.

It is a further object of the invention to provide driving means carried by the device within the fabric which is magnetically coupled with external driving means. in order to reduce or eliminate the friction against the fabric resulting from driving the spreader either by the travel ofthe fabric or by frictional engagement of external driving members against the fabric, such as driving rolls, pulleys, belts or the like.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the drawing and the description thereof hereinafter.

In the drawing, which is illustrative of the invention:

Figure l is a front elevation of the tubular fabric spreader, with the front panel of the fabric cut away and with the external driving means partially removed from the left side to expose the details of the spreader structure,

Figure 2 is a section taken on line II-II of Figure l,

Figure 3 is a face view of a modiiied form of permanent magnet,

Figure 4 is a further modification of a perma nent magnet rotor,

Figure 5 is stillanother modification of a permanent magnet rotor,

Figure 6 is a section of a belt line VI-VI of Figure l, and

Figurev 'l' is a section taken on line VI'I--VII of Figure 1'.

With reference particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the floating fabric spreader comprises a symmetrical framework having two generally parallel panels 3, both of which may have contours similar to the contour of the front panel shown in Figure 1. Each panel comprises substantially identically shaped members joined at l and 5 by means of cap or machine screws 6 extending into a tie-rod or block a which has such a thickness as to properly space the two panels apart so that they can receive therebetween a plurality of rotary members 'l adjacent the periphery of the panels. These rotary members 'l are rotatably mounted such as by means of pins 8 which extend into the spaced panels. The opposite panels 3 may be additionally secured together in properly spaced relation to form a rigid framework by additional spacer elements 4b in the form of internally threaded sleeves adapted to receive machine screws 6a (see Figure 7). The spreader may readily be adjusted to fabrics of diiferent widths by replacing the tie-rods or blocks 4a secured at joints 4 and 5 by screws E with longer or shorter blocks.

Asv shown, the tubular fabric F passes upwardly around the floating spreader device and in order to spread the fabric gradually the lower ends of the panels are shaped into a gradually rounded nose. At a position above the center of gravity of the assembled floating framework, the panels are indentedv as at 9 to provide a recess to receive external supporting rolls lil. One of the rotary elements 'l is positioned adjacent each side of the indented portions 9 so as to cooperate with the external supporting rotors lil. The tail end of the panel comprises two outwardly extending legs Il which serve to stretch the fabric to the full width as the fabric departs from the device. The outermost edges of the panels are bent inwardly as shown in Figures 2 and '7 in order to avoid the engagement of the fabric with any sharp corners at such edges. The two panels are preferably formed in such a manner that along the outer edges of their legs l l the spaced panels corne into substantial contact.

The supporting rotors IB may either be idle or driven and if driven, they are preferably driven at a speed which is the same as the linear speed of the tubular fabric, so that there is no need for any relative slipping of the rotors l!! against the fabric. Belt i2 may be passed around two or more of the rotary elements 'l carried by the device and when used, it serves to carry the fabric along that portion of the edge adjacent which it extends. As specifically shown, two such belts are provided, one for the rotatable elements 'I on one side and the other for the rotatable elements on the other side. Any belt which is capable of being tensioned may be employed but it is preferred to have a belt formed, as illustrated in Figure 6, of a coil spring 3S surrounded by or embedded in a sheath or cylindrical body dil of rubber or equivalent material vsuch as a synthetic or substitute rubber and, in any event, the outer surface of such belt should be rounded.

Regardless of whether or not the rotors I are idlers or driven, there is preferably provided within the floating device means for driving the rotatable elements I. As shown specically,rthis driving means comprises a permanent magnet rotor I3 having two poles as indicated at the left of Figure l. The rotor I3 is preferably in the form of a solid disc, any space between the poles being filled with a hard non-magnetic material I4, such as a synthetic resin of the type of phenolaldehyde, urea-aldehyde, or the like. In order to hold each rotor I3 in place, a set of three pulleys I are iixedly secured in a yoke I6 and the intermediate of such pulleys I5 has its axis offset from the plane of the axes of the outer two piilleys. The pivot I1 upon which the intermediate pulley I5 is mounted extends endwise from both plates of the yoke into slots I8 provided in the spaced panels 3 inwards of the location desired of the rotor I3. The belt I2 passes around the two or more (all as shown) rotatable elements 'I desired to be driven and also around the outer two pulleys I5 and is tensioned so that the several pulleys I5 with their yoke I5 are urged toward the rotor I3, slots I8 being disposed generally radially with respect to the rotor I3 in order to allow of such motion of the yoke and pulleys I5. A preferred manner of maintaining the plane of rotation of rotor I3 consists in providing the periphery with a frictional facing ring I9. ,Advantageouslm this facing material rests within la groove 2B in the circumference of the rotor I3 and is provided with an annular bead 2l adapted to ft within the grooves of the pulleys orvsheaves l. This assures that the rotor is maintained in proper engagement with the rotary elements 1. V A

Means is provided for externally driving the magnetic rotors I3. This means consists in providing a rotating eld alongside at least one face of the oating structure adjacent the position occupied by each rotor I3."As shown more particularly in Figure 2 and'at'V the right of Figure l, there are provided shafts 22 and 22aY whose axes are in alignment with axis of rotor I3. A motor 23 drives shaft 22 and the rotation of shaft 22 is transmitted to shaft 22a by means of an offset shaft 2li supported in bearings 25, a belt or sprocket chain 26 connecting shaft 24 with shaft 22 and a similar belt or sprocket chain 2'I connecting Vshaft 24 and 22a. Each shaft 22 and 22a carries'aV spider 28 having at its outer periphery four magnetic cores 29 each Acarrying an electromagnetic coil 3G. Each shaft likewise carries two slip rings 3l and 32 which serve as terminals to which the leads 33 and 34 of each coil are connected. These leads 33 and 3G are connected to provide two north poles adjacent one another and two south poles adjacent one another, the several poles being spaced in a manner to adapt them best to the particular construction ofthe magnetic rotor I3 with which it is to co-operate. Brushes 35 and 33 are provided to connect the slip rings 32 and 3l respectively to opposite sides of a direct current line 31. It

4 is to be understood that a permanent magnet may be substituted for the spider 28 with its four electromagnetic poles and this may be fully adequate where a large torque is unnecessary to drive the rotative members 7.

Each of the rotors I3 co-operates with a separate and independent external driving means and the speed with which the external magnetic field is rotated may be controlled independently of the other driving field. This independent control may be obtained by disposing an infinitely variable speed transmission between the motor 23 and shaft 2li or by an electrical controlling means such as by the rheostat 33 connected in series with a series-wound A. C. motor. By thus providing independent control of the speed of r0- tation of the rotors, it is possible for an operator to straighten out a fabric at any time during operation that it becomes too taut on one side of the floating device and too loose on the other. rIhis may be effected merely by momentary increase of speed on one side or reduction of speed cn the other side.

Figure 3 shows a modified form of magnetic rotor i3d in the form of a ring of highly magnetic material permanently magnetized to provide alternating north and south poles. rihe dotted lines are lines of magnetic flux. Figure 4 shows a modification of the permanent rotor in which the disc I3b of strongly magnetizable material is magnetized to provide north and south poles alternating about its periphery.

Figure 5 shows a further modification of a magnetic rotor in which spaced discs I3c of nonmagnetizable material have secured therebetween two separate bars I'3d of highly magnetizable material. The bars are magnetized to provide alternating north and south poles about the pe. riphery.

In all of the embodiments shown it is to be understood that the magnetic rotor may consist of permanently magnetized systems having one or more north poles and one or more south poles, the several north poles either alternating with the south poles or being grouped together as desired.

In operation, it will be apparent that the two rotors I3 in the two sides of the floating spreader will normally be driven at constant speed and at the same speed. By driving all of the rotatable elements 'I which engage the tubular fabric through the belts i2 thereabout at the same speed as the speed of withdrawal from the device, the friction between such elements and the fabric is reduced to a minimum and the oating device as a whole exerts a minimum of friction against the inside wall of the fabric. It is thus possible to substantially eliminate any drag caused by the rotors i c upon the fabric. However, it is within the scope of applicants invention to rely upon the driving of rotatable elements l entirely, in which case rotors IB would be idlers. The supporting rotors Il) normallyV are in the form of grooved pulleys so that the groove is adapted to receive the fabric edge contour as determined by the belts I2.

It is an important feature of the present invention that the rotatable elements l along one side of the floating spreader are independent of the corresponding elements along the other side or sides insofar as driving means is concerned, whether such driving means be derived externally of the fabric by frictional engagement of the driving means therewith as by means of rotary members Il! or other electromagnetic coupling through rotors I3. This adapts the floating spreader to driving systems which independently control the rate of travel of the fabric along the several edges of the spreader so that the fabric may be straightened out at will by the operator.

It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims hereinafter.

I claim:

l. A spreader adapted to float Within a traveling tubular fabric comprising a framework, a group of rotatable elements spaced along each edge of the frame, and, operatively associated with each group of the elements, means comprising a rotor disposed With its periphery adjacent that of one of the elements and a belt engaged therebetween for driving the elements along one side independently of the other rotatable elements.

2. A tubular fabric spreader in accordance with claim 1 having means for independently controlling the speed of rotation of the rotatable elements along the several edges of the spreader.

3. A tubular fabric spreader in accordance with claim 2 having a plurality of independent belts, each belt passing around a plurality of the rotatable elements along one edge only of the spreader.

4. A tubular fabric spreader in accordance with claim 1 having a plurality of belts, each belt passing around the rotatable elements on one side of the spreader.

5. A tubular fabric spreader in accordance with claim 1 having a plurality of permanent magnet rotors rotatably mounted thereon, each of such magnetic rotors being in driving engagement with at least one of the rotatable elements.

6. A tubular fabric spreader in accordance with claim 5, having external means for rotating a separate magnetic eld in inductive relationship with each of the permanent magnets.

7. A tubular fabric spreader in accordance with claim 6 having means for independently controlling the speed of rotation of the rotating elds.

8. A spreader adapted to float Within a traveling tubular fabric comprising a framework, rotatable elements spaced along each edge of the frame, means for driving the elements, and a permanent magnet rotor rotatably mounted on the spreader in driving engagement with at least one of the rotatable elements.

9. A spreader adapted to float within a traveling tubular fabric comprising a framework, rotatable elements spaced along each edge of the frame, means for driving the elements along one side independently of the other rotatable elements, a plurality of permanent magnet rotors mounted on the spreader, each of such magnetic rotors being in driving engagement with at least one of the rotatable elements.

10. A spreader adapted to float within a traveling tubular fabric comprising two spaced panels having generally the same configuration, each panel comprising two approximately identical members joined together to provide a symmetrical structure in which one juncture is formed in the leading end of the device and another juncture is formed between inwardly extending transverse portions of the panel members near the trailing end of the device, each panel member being provided with inwardly extending portions intermediate of the nose of the device and the transverse portions of the panel forming the rear juncture, separate and independent belt-guiding means on each side of the spreader slidably mounted upon each of said inwardly extending panels, a plurality of rotatable elements disposed along each side of the spreader and mounted between the panels, a plurality of separate belts, each belt passing about said belt-guiding means and rotatable elements on a separate side of the device, a plurality of rotatable permanent magnets, one such magnet being associated with each side of the spreader and being in driving engagement With a plurality of rotatable elements along its side, a plurality of magnetic fields disposed outside said spreader, one such eld being adjacent each permanent magnet, and means for rotating the elds.

11. A tubular fabric spreader in accordance with claim 10 having means for controlling the speed of the magnetic field associated with each permanent magnet independently of those associated with the other permanent magnets.

GEO. A. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 964,088 Chateld July 12, 1910 2,294,642 Wedler Sept. 1, 1942 2,350,071 Shields May 30, 1944 

